Sept. 22 – 28, 2016 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢ No. 38 www.associatednewspapers.net Development plan prompts protests Vol. 131, No. 38 Don Howard dissenting votes on the plan The "biggest two-piece Staff Writer while Supervisor Bob Nix, band in America" will Treasurer Marjorie Banner and appear in concert at United Frustrated Northville trustees Marv Gans and Fred Methodist Church when Township residents packed Shadko were in favor of the Cring and Clazzy perform Township Hall during the regu- development. Sept. 25. lar board of trustees meeting A letter of intent to develop See page 2. last week expressing multiple the property was accepted by concerns regarding a proposed township officials last year and development at the 53-acre for- members of the township plan- mer Scott Prison site at Five ning commission approved the Mile and Beck roads. In 2012, plan by a 5 to 1 vote last week township officials worked out a after a 5½-hour contentious Vol. 69, No. 38 transaction in cooperation with meeting. Developer's plans include a hotel, theater, condominiums and a A new mural on the exte- the state and help from State During the board meeting new Meijer at the corner of Five Mile and Beck Road in Northville. rior wall of The Village Arts Rep. Kurt Heise to acquire the last Thursday, residents Factory in Canton has been property for a final cost of $1. expressed concerns regarding completed by volunteers The mixed-use development, the traffic congestion already from Ford Motor Co. proposed by Redico, including a experienced at the site, the See page 3. 170,000 square-foot Meijer store threat of increased crime and with a gas station and garden the burden on the township center, condominiums, town infrastructure and public safety homes, a theater, hotel and inherent with a 24-hour grocery other retail stores, was the main store, a theater, 200 mid-rise item on the meeting agenda condominiums and 78 town Vol. 69, No. 38 before the standing-room-only homes in the area that is the A Veterans Resource Fair crowd. Despite the vocal con- main traffic artery to the Salem will be presented in Inkster cerns of residents, township offi- Township landfill. organized by the Inkster cials approved the Planned Unit The development, dubbed by residents who told officials, diligence” in approving the proj- Citizen Action Network from Development (PUD) of the site The Village at Northville, was “It is not the style we are looking ect and said, “We're going to 1-4 p.m. Sept. 29 at 2500 by a 4 to 3 vote. Trustees characterized as “upscale with for.” make Haggerty and Eight Mile Hamlin Dr. Samantha Heath and Mindy contemporary architecture” by Irate residents accused the come to our doorstep.” One resi- See page 2. Hermann, along with Township Redico architect Sue Neumann. members of the board and offi- Clerk Sue Hillebrand cast the That architecture was criticized cials of failing to perform “due See Meijer, page 6 Vol. 16, No. 38 Hometown hero Some of the unsung heroes from the history of Northville will tell their own Romulus honors Sports Hall stories near their gravesites during the annual Oakwood of Fame inductee John Long Cemetery Walk Oct. 9. A Romulus native now has something in common with Chris See page 6. Osgood, Mike Modano, Brendan Shanahan and Derek Jeter. John Long, who graduated from Romulus High School in 1974 and went on to play professional basketball, was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame last week. “It's a great honor for me,” said Long, who played in the NBA for more than 10 years. “You never think, when you're playing Vol. 16, No. 38 sports coming up, that you're going to achieve so much,” he said. “But the stuff you achieve along the way is very special because Barefoot Productions everything I did was family-oriented. My family supported every- Theatre will present The thing I did. They were always there.” 25th Annual Putnam County After high school, Long played basketball at the University of John Long, a Romulus native, was inducted into the Michigan Spelling Bee through Sept. Detroit, under legendary coach and current basketball announc- Sports Hall of Fame last week. 25, marking the 11th season er Dick Vitale. When Vitale went on to coach the Detroit Pistons, of the group. he selected Long in the second round of the 1978 NBA draft. Long of your journey. See page 4. played for the Pistons from 1978-1986, then returned for the “Once you get on top, every- championship run in 1989 under coach Chuck Daly. He also one wants to knock you off. In played for the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto order to stay on top you have to Raptors. He scored 12,131 points throughout his 14-year NBA keep working as hard as you did career and currently works in the Pistons' front office, in the bas- to get there,” he said. “I always Vol. 131, No. 38 ketball operations department. remembered that. It's what it's all Romulus City Council members presented him with a special about.” Hundreds of area resi- proclamation last week, commemorating everything he did as a He said he enjoys giving back dents participated in the professional-and since, within the community. to the community and working recent free Health and “This is very special,” Long said of the recognition. “This is with young people and said he Wellness Fair at the where is all started for me, right here in Romulus.” hopes he can inspire youth to Romulus Senior Center last Councilman William Wadsworth said he remembered watch- strive for their dreams-no matter week. ing Long as a high school star, back when Wadsworth worked as a what they may be. See page 5. Wayne County Sheriff's deputy. He also remembered watching Anything you try to do in life, Long on his seemingly tireless jogging routine around the com- give it your all. Nothing is impos- John Long munity after he had made it to the pros. sible,” he said. “You've got to Long said it was because of the work ethic instilled in him by believe, and then you've got to follow up by working hard and his family and that achieving your goals isn't necessarily the end achieving the goals you set.” Vol. 69, No. 38 The Wayne Historical Society will host the third annual Cemetery Walk from Plan to dissolve pay board proposed 1-3 p.m. Oct. 2 at Westlawn (formerly Glenview) In what several critics are township. Those recommenda- Cemetery. calling an effort at political pay- tions automatically become See page 7. No action was taken on his back, four defeated members of ” effective the next year unless the Plymouth Township Board suggestion earlier this year. the suggested amounts are of Trustees have voted to dis- rejected by a two-thirds vote of band the local officials compen- the board of trustees. Should the sation commission. If approved Conzelman, all of whom lost based his suggestion at that board fail to act, the salaries are Vol. 69, No. 38 on a second reading, the meas- their re-election bids in the time, he said, on the failure of set at the levels recommended ure would allow the board mem- August primary, voted in favor of the commission members to by the commission. Currently, AT&T has donated $5,000 bers to determine the rate of pay disbanding the commission. meet in 2015. No action was the supervisor is paid $111,384 to the city of Westland in for their replacements in town- Kelly, who said he felt that taken on his suggestion earlier and the clerk and treasurer are support of the Jefferson ship hall. the board members should be this year. The commission mem- each paid $104,959. Trustees are Barnes Community Vitality Trustee Mike Kelly proposed responsible for setting their own bers are required, by state law, paid $11,921 annually. Center located in historic the move and Supervisor rate of pay, first broached the to meet in odd-numbered years In Plymouth Township, Norwayne. Shannon Price, Treasurer Ron topic earlier this year, prior to to make salary recommenda- See page 7. Edwards and Clerk Nancy the Aug. 2 primary election. He tions for elected officials in the See Pay, page 4 For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900..